Electric-arc lamp.



No. 634,3l4. Patented Oct. 3, I899.

- C. TEPEL.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application Med Nov. 18, 1898. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

WITNESSES: iv

m: humus PETERS co. PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, n c.

No. 634,3I4. Patented 00f. 3, I899. C. TEPEL.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

. posite direction.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN TEPEL, OF BENNET", PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,314, dated October 3, 1899.

Application filed November 18, 1898. Serial No. 696,776. (No model! To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN TEPEL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bennett, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arc-Lamps, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in arc-lamps, and espe cially to that class thereof known as inclosed arc-lamps, and has for its object to produce such a lamp which will be closely regulated to maintain a steady light.

Another object of this invention is to produce an unobstructed or shadowless light which will be capable of adjustment to increase or decrease its intensity.

XVith these objects in view my invention consists in a suitably-supported solenoid having its core attached to levers which are connected by insulated couplings to the upper curved ends of levers carrying carbon-holders. The carbon rods in these holders are horizontally disposed with their adjacent ends inclosed in an air-tight bulb and are caused to adjust themselves in the holders by clutch-rings having gripping edges to engage the rods when moved in one direction, but to freely slide thereover when moved in the op- The clutch-rings are pivoted on the lower ends of clutch-levers, which are in turn pivoted to the curved levers and have their upper extensions loosely slidable in guides on the frame of the lamp above the pivots of the curved levers, so that the movements of the curved levers produce movements of the clutch-levers in the same direction, but of greater speed. A number of resistance-coils are connected to a regulatingswitch to vary the strength of the current. passing through the arc, and consequently vary the brilliancy of the light.

My invention further consists in the novel details of construction and combination of parts to be clearly described in the following specification and fully set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved are-lamp with the hood and globe removed. Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof with the hood and globe sectioned. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the regulating-switch. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the switch-base. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the switch. Fig. is a perspective view of the bracket. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the clutch mechanism. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the air-tight bulb and reflector. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the bulb and sleeve connection. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the yoke. Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the insulator-coupling. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the pivotarm of the arch, and Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the clutch. In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a supporting-arch secured at its lower ends 2 to a concave ring 3, which carries the reflector at of any suitable construction.

Depending from the center of the arch 1 by means of the strap (3 is a solenoid 7, provided with a vertically-movable suction-core 8, which is engaged near its lower end by a yoke 9. The yoke 5) is formed with a split-- ring center having a screw-hole threaded across the split to removably clamp the ring around the core 8, and its oppositely-extending arms are bent upwardly and outwardly and are provided with apertured right-angu; lar lugs 9, the lug of one arm extending in the opposite direction to that of the other.

A brace 10, provided with a central circular opening for guiding the core 8, connects the sides of the arch l at about their middle points,and right-angular arms 11 project from said sides of the arch just above the brace and have levers 12 fulcrumed to their ends 13. These fulcrums13 are located nearer one end of the levers than the other, dividing them into unequal members, the longer being pivoted at 1 L to the lower ends of links 15 and the shorter being pivoted to insulatorcouplings 10 at their upper ends 17. The other ends 18 of the links 15 are pivoted to the lugs 9 of the yoke 9, and the other ends of the insulator-couplings 16 are pivoted to the upperends 19 of curved levers 20 and 20.

On the top of the ring 3 are two oppositelydisposed pairs of upwardly-projecting lugs 21, to which are secured but insulated therefrom brackets 22, provided with bearings 22,

in which the short shafts of the curved levers and 20 are journaled, so that when the core 8 is drawn upward by the solenoid becoming energized the yoke 0 lifts the longer members of the levers 12 by the links 15, which depresses the upper ends of the curved levers 2O 20 through the insulator-couplings 16, causing these levers 20 20 to rock on their shafts 20 and carry their lower ends farther apart for a purpose hereinafter described.

At the lower end 23 of each of the levers 20 and 20 is a tubular carbon-holder 24, adapted to frictionally engage a carbon rod passed therethrough with sufficient tightness to prevent it from accidentally slipping, but permitting it to slide when drawn on by the clutch.

At intermediate points of the levers 20 and 20 are apertures 25 and 20, in either of which curved clutch-levers 27 may be pivoted, with their upperextremitieslooselyslidingthrough apertured lugs 28 of guides or standards 20, formed integral with rods 3 which form parts of the brackets 22.

The lower end of each clutch-lever 27 is provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined knuckle 31, which is connected to a ring-clutch 32 by means of a pivoted link 33, and this clutch has its upper end projecting close to the tip of the knuckle 31, to be en gaged thereby when the clutch-lever 27 moves outward, so as to determine the incline of the clutch. An opening 3 is formed through the clutch at an incline to engage the carbon rod with sharp edges when pressed forward, but presenting a comparatively smooth and larger passage to slide over the carbon red when the clutch recedes. At the lower end the clutch is extended to form a depending ear to be grasped by the hand for adjusting its position during the trimming operation.

A sleeve connects a horizontal circular plate 26 with the top of the arch Land a hollow rod 39 joins the plate so with a similar plate 40, while sections of resistance-coils 2-37 are strungoninsulating-buttons 38, arranged around the peripheries of these plates 36 and 10,

A feed-wire 11 enters through the ordinary insulating-hauger 45 on the plate 40 and connects with one end of the solenoid-winding, while the wire 12 connects the other end of the solenoid-winding to the shaft 21 "of the lever 20. A wire 1-3 connects the shaft 20 'of lever 20 with the contact-point 51 of a regulating-switch 47, which is provided with a switch-stem 51, adapted to turn a switch-arm 53 to connect the point 51 with the contactpoints 52. These contaot-points 52 are connected to the resistance-coils at intervals in the manner of the ordinary rheostat, and the wire at is connected to one end of the resistance-coils and leads out through the hanger to form, with the free end of the wire 41, the terminals of the lamp.

The switch 47 is supported bya depending arch 10" of: the plate 4L0, and consists of a circular casing 50, through which is journaled a stem 51., provided with an operating-knob end 51 and carrying an indicating-needle 49, adapted to register with graduation-marks 4-8 on the front of the casing. A switch-arm 53 is also carried by the stem 51, and has its shorter end formed sector or fan shape and presses normally in contact with the contactpoint 51 throughout the arc of movement of the switch,while the other longer end moves in contact with the points 52.

Through the center of the reflector at the stem of a circular beveled-edge hanger 55 for the air-tight bulb is secured by means of the nut 57 threaded thereon, and the air-tight connection between the hanger and the bulb is accomplished by means of a sleeve formed or" two sections 59 and 60, hinged together by the link 61 and engaged by the clasp 02,which ring is provided with inwardly-turned edges, the upper resting on the top of the hanger and the other inclined to engage the flared mouth of the bulb with suitable packing between the bulb and the beveled edge of the hanger. The bulb 56 is provided with diametrically opposite openings (39, which are surrounded by suitable packing-rings (not shown) to permit the movement of the carbon rod therethrough without admitting air to the bulb.

The insulator-couplings 1.0 are formed of blocks of insulating material-as vulcanite, hard rubber, or porcelainsurrounded by a strengthening-band 72 of metal and having connectingtips 73 threaded in their ends without making electrical contact with each other.

The reflector t is provided with cut-away portions (i lto permit the'levers of the feed. ing mechanism operating therothrough, and the entire mechanism is incased in a hood (35, which is provided with engaging springhooks (36 to grasp the outwardly-turned upper flange of the globe 67.

From the foregoing it will be seen that with an arc-lamp of this description when the current is admitted by the switch 1-7 the circuit is complete through the solenoid and carbon rods, the latter having been placed in contact during the trimming operation. The solenoid becoming energized attracts its core, moving the yoke E) upward and drawing the carbons apart in the manner previously described. As the length of the are thus formed between the carbons is increased its increasing resistance diminishes the strength of the current, and consequently the energy of the solenoid, allowing the core to balance and come to rest at the required distance apart. When the resistance of the arc becomes too great, owing to the increased distance between the carbons caused by their consumption, the balance of the feed mechanism is overthrown by the solenoid becoming weakened, and the core drops slightly to feed the carbons closer together to regain an arc of the resistance necessary to maintain the balance.

I'IO

If the carbons were rigidly secured in the ends of the levers 20 and 20, it is obvious that after a short while they would be so far consumed that they cbuld not come near enough together, though said levers were in their extreme inner position, so it becomes necessary to gradually feed the carbons forward through the carbon-holders as they are consumed. This I accomplish by my clutch mechanism in the following manner: As the levers 20 and 20 travel inward they move the levers 27 therewith; but owing to the fact that these levers 27 are fulcrumed (through the apertures of the guides 29) at a greater distance from their pivotal connection 25 or 26 than the levers 20 and 20 the clutches 32 will move forward at a greater speed than the carbon-holders 24, and as they engage the carbon rods with their sharp edges in this movement they slide the carbons through the holders to compensate for their loss by consumption. On the receding movement of the levers 20 and 20 the clutches are again moved faster than the carbon-holders, but are drawn or dragged by the links 33 at an incline, in which they move freely over the carbon rods to zwain take u their en a ement nearer the D D b holders, and this incline of the clutches is determined by the upper end of the clutch coming in contact with the knuckle 31 of the clutch-levers 27.

Then the current variations caused by the changing resistance of the are are not great enough to accomplish the continuous regular feeding of the carbons, the pivotal points of the levers 20 and 20, with the levers 27, are changed to the apertures 26, where their differential relation is more sensitive to slight movements of the core, and therefore the carbons will be fed more regular.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, a pivoted carbon-holder, a clutch-lever pivoted thereto and fulcrum ed at a point farther from its connection with the carbon-holder than said carbon-holder is fulcrumed, a clutch, and a link pivotally connecting the clutch to the clutch-lever, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the character described, a carbon-holder, a clutch-1e ver connected thereto so as to move in the same direction therewith but at a greater speed, a clutch-ring provided with an inclined opening and an up wardly-projecting end, a link connecting the clutch-ring to the clutch-lever, and a knuckle on the clutch-lever to engage the upwardlyprojecting end of the clutch-ring, as and for the purpose described.

3. In a device of the character described, a pivoted carbon-holder, a clutch-lever pivoted thereto and fulcrumed at a point farther from its connection with the carbon-holder than said carbon-holder is fulcrumed, a clutch-rin g provided with an inclined opening and an upwardly-projecting end, a link connecting the clutch-rin g to the clutch-lever, and a knuckle on the clutch-lever to engage the upwardly projecting end of the clutch-ring to limit the movement thereof, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, a beveled-edge hanger, a sleeve formed of two sect-ions hinged and clasped together around the hanger, said sections being provided with inwardly turned edges, the upper thereof resting on the top of the hanger, an air-tight bulb having a flared mouth to fit between the beveled edge of the hanger and the lower edge of the sleeve, and suitable packing located between the beveled edge of the hanger and the mouth of the bulb, substantially as do? scribed.

5. In a device of the character described, a pivoted carbon-holder, a clutch-lever pivoted thereto and f ulcru med at a point farther from its connection with the carbon-holder than said carbon-holder is f ulcru med, a clutch-rin provided with an inclined opening and an upwardly-projecting end, a link connecting the clutch-ring to the clutch-lever, a knuckle on the clutch lever to engage the upwardlyprojecting end of the clutch ring to limit the movement thereof, carbon rods passing through the inclined opening of the clutchring and movably engaged by the carbonholders, an air-tight bulb inclosing the inner end of the carbon rod and provided with a flared mouth, a hanger having a beveled edge fitting in the mouth of the bulb, a suitable packinglocated between thehanger and bulb, and a sleeve formed of two sections hinged and clasped together around the hanger with their upper edges turned over the top of the hanger and their lower edges bent inward at an incline to engage the flared month of the bulb, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN TEPEII.

Witnesses:

A. .TJ- :BOGAN, H. II. PATTEl-tSON. 

